The Petcast

In this final episode of our bonus ‘Ask The Vet’ mini-series, Emma Barton and Blue Cross Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Caroline Reay, discuss whether pet owners should be bathing their four-legged friends? Many people mistakenly believe that their pet’s coat needs to be washed as often as we wash our own hair - but in actual fact, some pets are better left for as long as possible.A lot of our furry friends have sensitive skin and cleaning them too often can really dry out their coat or cause skin irritation, so as responsible owners it’s important to know what precautions to take when washing our pets.Useful Links:How often should you wash your dog? https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/how-often-should-you-wash-your-dog Top 10 tips for looking after a hamster: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/top-10-tips-looking-after-hamster 

Pet theft and pet scams have been rife over the past year, attributed to the pandemic ‘pet boom’. In this episode, Blue Cross arms pet owners – new and old – on how to protect themselves and their four-legged friends against criminal activity.Alongside Emma Barton and Blue Cross’ Head of Public Affairs, Becky Thwaites, this episode features best-selling author, James Bowen - who talks about his own experience of being scammed when looking to welcome a new puppy into his home. Becky, who campaigns for better animal welfare legislation across the UK, speaks about why she thinks there has been an increase in pet thefts and scams: “Unfortunately, with the coronavirus pandemic it has led to a massive increase in people wanting to get a new pet for their lives, but that goes hand-in-hand with a massive increase in prices and demand. “And then you've got just more of the criminal element to the trade, so, we’re seeing things like pet theft, scams and a legally bread puppies coming into the country, so unfortunately, there's just a lot of  bad guys out there trying to take advantage of people that just want a lovely new pet for their life.”

Emma Barton and Blue Cross Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Caroline Reay, delve into the topic of pets and dementia.Have you ever wondered if your pet could be living with dementia, or what would happen if their memory started to deteriorate? Perhaps you have started to notice them acting a little strangely in their old age, but aren’t sure why? In this episode, Caroline and Emma discuss how pet owners can spot the signs of dementia, and what they can do to keep their pet pals happy and comfortable following a diagnosis. Useful Links:Caring for older cats: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/caring-for-older-catsCaring for older dogs: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/caring-for-older-dogsCare for the older horse: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/care-older-horse 

Emma Barton and Blue Cross Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Caroline Reay, discuss the strange eating habits of dogs! It’s a stomach-churning sight for us humans but many dogs like to eat poo otherwise known as coprophagia - the eating of faeces or dung.Horse manure, cow pats, cat poo, fox poop and even other dogs’ faeces are common favourites. But surely our dogs don’t do this just to make us feel nauseous?  So, why exactly do our dogs eat poo? A common misconception is that this means your dog has a nutritional deficiency. However, as Caroline explains, it is more likely that there is a more straightforward explanation.Useful Links:Why does my dog eat poop? https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/why-does-my-dog-eat-poop Why does my dog eat grass? https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/why-does-my-dog-eat-grass Can dogs eat apples, grapes, potatoes and other fruit and veg? https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/can-dogs-eat-apples 

TV personality, Nicola McLean, and Blue Cross’s Pet Bereavement Support Service Manager, Diane James, join Emma Barton to explore the incredible link between pets and our mental health.Over the last year, there has been a marked increase in the number of people struggling with their mental health because of the pandemic. To help those who may be feeling the effects, Emma and her guests will be touching upon how owning a pet can boost our mental wellbeing and the benefits of having pets in work environments and retirement homes, whilst also looking into how a pet owner’s own mental health can impact their pets. Delving deeper into the amazing impact pets can have on our lives, Diane James says: “It’s not just assistance dogs, but all pets can give you a form of companionship treatment, it can be therapy to improve your social, emotional or cognitive abilities and we’ve known even horses, for example, to provide this. “We’ve rehomed horses at Blue Cross where we had a case of a young lady who didn’t want to brush her hair, but when she saw a horse being groomed it encouraged her to brush her hair.“It’s the joy they bring us, but it is also the social and emotional things they bring into our lives that are great.” Useful Links:Owning a pet is one of life’s pleasures and, unlike some other pleasures, pets are positively good for children and adults alike. Read about all of the benefits here: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/dogs-and-human-healthFind out more about the benefits of pet ownership here: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/benefits-pet-ownership Animals can bring a smile to your face on the darkest of days. So, if you’re working from home, here are some fun ways of involving your pet to lift the spirits of you and your online colleagues: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/working-from-home-with-your-pet

Emma Barton and Blue Cross Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Caroline Reay, discuss one of the most common questions asked – Is my pet too fat? Being overweight can have lasting consequences and can even be fatal to pets. Studies have shown that overweight pets do not live as long and are more prone to illnesses that spoil their quality of life, such as arthritis, breathing difficulties, heart problems and diabetes.Should you be able to feel dog’s ribs? Should I change my pets’ diet, or just feed them less? With Caroline’s top tips and advice on how to keep your pet healthy and happy, pet owners listening to this episode will be able to navigate the world of pet diets seamlessly.  Useful Links:What should I feed my puppy? Read Blue Cross’s top advice here: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/what-should-i-feed-my-puppyA horse’s natural diet includes a variety of grasses of different types and age (from fresh growth to older rougher stalks) and also other herbs and weeds. Find out more here: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/horse-feeding-and-watering Did you know that rabbits need three different food types for a healthy diet? https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/what-food-best-rabbits 

Penny Lancaster joins Emma Barton and Blue Cross Animal Behaviorist, Claire Haynes, to discuss modern family life with pets and why it’s important to read animal behaviour within a family environment. From tips on how to get your children stuck into caring for dogs and cats, to advice on when it’s right to introduce your young family members to new furry friends, this episode has it covered!Delving deeper into the impact that social media trends are having on our pets, Claire, Penny and Emma discuss why it is essential for parents to educate their children on the importance of responsible pet ownership – to ensuring all our four-legged friends are happy and safe.Blue Cross’s Animal Behaviorist Claire Haynes speaks about how positive trends should be more of a focus for viral videos:“Not all animals are suitable to do what you might see online…sometimes it can feel like the social media presence is more important than our relationship with our pets, [but] trust is the most important thing. “What we'd really like to see is content that promotes the trust we have with our animals, that shows examples of happy animals or dogs doing cool things that make them happy – showing what can be achieved through a positive rewards-based relationship with your dog.”Useful Links:Owning a pet is a fabulous and rewarding experience, but every animal and their needs are different. Blue Cross’s tops on how to choose the right pet are here to help: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/finding-right-pet It’s wonderful to see children and dogs grow up together and the benefits for both can be huge. However it can be challenging at times trying to manage a puppy and very young children, check out some advice here: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/puppies-and-children Children and cats can be best friends for life, but first impressions count. Blue Cross’s tips will help get their relationship off to the best start: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/introducing-your-kitten-to-your-children Getting a new pet is really exciting for children. Encouraging your child to think ahead to what it will be like when their new pet arrives is a great way to get the relationship off to a good start. Channel that enthusiasm into some fun ways to plan for your new arrival with these top tips: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/how-get-your-children-ready-new-pet 

In the second episode of our bonus ‘Ask The Vet’ mini-series, Emma Barton and Blue Cross Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Caroline Reay, delve into the topic of pets and allergies.Have you ever wondered if your dog suffers with hayfever, or what to do if your pet has a food allergy? In this episode, Caroline, along with Emma and her furry co-host, Poppy Dog, discuss what pet owners can do to keep their pet pals healthy and safe all year round. Humans are not the only ones to suffer with allergies - our four-legged friends do too. Allergies can be caused by many different environment factors and, depending on the cause and your dog’s reaction, can be managed in various ways. From food and skin to flea allergies, The Petcast’s ‘Ask The Vet’ episodes will give listeners the best tips, tricks and guidance for all pets.Top Tips for Pet AllergiesDo you think your dog suffers from any food or skin allergies? Check out this guide for advice: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/food-and-skin-allergies-in-dogs Feline asthma is an immunity-related condition and can be triggered by an allergy or stress. Find out more here: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/caring-cat-asthma